SHOW & TELL...studio organization

Welcome to my SHOW and TELL about ways I organize my stuff! Today's Show and tell has been organized by Cerri at Little Pink Studio. Head over to her blog for a complete listing of others who are playing today! Should be lots of fun to see all the great ideas. Thanks, Cerri for organizing this event!

Last Saturday I completed a post on this same topic. If you want to peek, it is listed on my sidebar as Show and Tell Saturday: Studio Organization. Today's offerings are different from that posting. In fact, this is a topic right up my alley as I am in the midst of moving into my new space above my garage. I have more ideas than I have time to implement...duh...story of everyone's life!

But first I'll show you one I've been working on this week.
This shelving unit was created from using an old picture frame I had stored in the basement. It measures a whopping 44" x 34". I have it hanging above a sideboard I use as a work station for all my tools. In addition to housing some of my stuff, I mostly wanted it to be another "inspiration" point in my room.The color of the frame before I went to town on it.....It had a lot of gold in it that doesn't show up in this picture so well. The lighting isn't that great in my basement...

I worked on this display piece down in my basement. Just me and all the cobwebs...I gave the Mr. several chances to come and help but he declined every single offer. He'll be the first to admit, he and power tools have nothing in common. They are all mine. Every last one of them. After finishing it up, I had the bright idea to wrap the shelves in some wallpaper I recently added to my collection. It added a little more visual interest.

I used beadboard for the backing again...Home Depot carries it already painted. Gotta love that...Notice that I also drilled holes along each side at 1 inch intervals in order to allow for moving the shelves around if I so desired. I think a little lace edging might look nice...maybe later.

Like most of my projects, these are not complicated or difficult. A power saw,a drill, and measure twice and cut once is all that's required.

I know lots of you gals use these old suitcases for storing some of your stash. I do too! But this one was a piece I found already "collaged" at an antique show up in the Midwest a few years back. I looked "so cute" carrying it on the plane! But the look on the Mr.'s face as he waited in the terminal for me was worth the slight discomfort of carrying it on board in the first place. Priceless.

Both sides of the suitcase were collaged. With the piece measuring 21" x 14" someone went to a lot of work. It appears as if before they began adhereing the artwork, they painted the background black. Once finished, the panels were given several coats of satin varnish.

Another fun way to show off your baubles is in the old salt and pepper shakers. I'm just starting to fill mine and just love the look.

I really hit pay dirt on a couple of auctions. All in, including shipping, I don't think I paid much over a $1 a piece for these. Many had sterling tops. Some a little dinged...buy hey...just adds to the charm. (A lot like some people I know and love dearly. Smile.)

WARNING: For my next photo, if you are a Longaberger "die hard" and would faint, or have any other adverse reaction to someone "altering" a Longaberger basket, you best leave now....

This is an old Longaberger picnic basket I've had forever. I've used it for a multitude of different purposes through the years. But on our last move six years ago to the Atlanta area, it never made it out of the basement storage area.

This picture gives you a pretty good idea of how beat up and ratty the poor thing had become...it also shows you that it was made in 1990! I told you it was old. In fact, if you look closely, you can still see some cobwebs. See...I told you there are cobwebs in my basement...

Anyway, I took a can of spray paint and gave the old basket a facelift. I sprayed it inside and out. It is going to be the home for about 50+ letter size file folders stuffed with lots of vintage paper items. All organized, of course, according to topic.

Last, is an art portfolio that I just love. It measures 16" x 14" and is made with archival materials. I store vintage papers and such in this gem. Did I mention that it zips and is quite sturdy. I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby but most art supply stores carry these in a variety of different sizes. They are a little more pricey, but I always use the 40% off one item coupon that is offered every other week in Hobby Lobby's weekly add for these kinds of purchases. It will store a lot of materials and keep them safe.

Here's just a quick peek at some of the types of stash I store in this binder.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh Taste and See....

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

It all started with giving some deep thought to the opening words of a new book I am reading. If I had never gone beyond the first printed page, it would have been worth the read. Worth the read if indeed I would embrace and apply the little nuggets of wisdom tucked away on that page.

A hundred people who lived past the age of 100 were asked if they had it to do all over again, what would they have done differently? Boiled down to its bare essence these were the top three answers:
*Risk more...
*Reflect more...
*Focus on making a lasting impact...

The writer goes on to challenge us to find, to seek deeper, to not miss the extraordinary that is woven in the ordinary moments of our lives. God is speaking. All the time. We just need to listen. We miss so much by hurrying through our days.

With that thought in mind, I decided to venture out on this perfect morning for taking pictures. The sky is overcast and the air is unseasonably cool for this time of the year. As I began my little adventure, I first peeked around my own gardens to see what was new.

I must confess, I have a terrible weakness for hydrangea. I have dozens and dozens of bushes growing in my yard. Last year's crop was so disappointing. We had a late freeze in the Atlanta area and all my bushes turned black. It was horrifying. But the "experts" said not to worry, they'll come back. Well, that was true, kind of. They eventually sprouted new leaves and bushed out nicely, but the crop of flowers was terrible. Maybe, and a really big maybe, a tenth of the flowers made an appearance.

But this year!!!! Oh my goodness. My bushes are LOADED, and I mean loaded. A bumper crop for sure! I could hardly wipe the grin off my face as I limped around checking out all the new arrivals in my gardens. Yes, I said limped. About six weeks ago I completely blew out my knee. ACL gone, and other ligament damage. After a sufficiently long pity party (surprisingly no other guests wanted to come-imagine that) I cancelled the party and moved on. I also had to cancel my gardening plans of adding lots of new friends to my garden. But with the severe watering restrictions imposed on our area, it is probably just as well.

Then came my first reflections and wisdom gleaned from visiting my hydrangeas:

-One season of a major setback does not mean FOREVER.
-Even when things look the bleakest, and it appears that all is lost, it's not the end of the story.
-Spend more time counting your blessings instead of recounting your losses. (Lots of hydrangea versus no new roses.)
-Attitude is everything. I can't control when I get to plant my new roses, but I do get to control my attitude about not getting to plant roses.



Eventually this clump of buds will be a mature flower. Fully opened and magificent. Just like us...we develop over time. Our beauty, it will come in stages of progression. But we need to receive the right kind of nourishment in order to become as beautiful as possible. We need to be planted in the proper soil...we need showers from the heavens to water us...and we need to have our faces kissed by the Son. The potential is there to be fully beautiful for each and every one of us. But it will only happen under the right conditions.

Am I purposely pursing those right conditions?

As I walked along, pondering the thoughts that were coming to my FINALLY listening ears, I realized how long its been since I ventured beyond my fence...

Dare I? On this less-than-stable-wobbly-knee of mine? THINK: RISK MORE.... Okay. That settles it. I'm going. Yes, it will have its sad moments. A year ago this walk would have included Miss Millie, my beautiful Golden Retriever. She loved to drag me (literally) along on walks. I miss her still...she was my shadow. She won the first two rounds of cancer, but the third round she lost. Have I purposely avoided those things that remind me of her? Possibly. But a reflection comes as I ask myself that question...We don't heal or overcome our struggles by avoiding them. We have to face them, head on. We must walk through them. If we don't we will become stuck. And when we get stuck, we miss the opportunities and things waiting for us on the other side. While I have been a city dweller for decades, there is a piece of my heart that longs for the country. As a compromise, I always insist on finding the house with at least an acre of land and it must back up to open expanse. Such is the place where I live now...our backyard is acres and acres of golf course. Trees and rolling hills as far as the eye can see.

As I walk along, I come across a large patch of fading dandelions. I'm struck by the fact that it's been such a long time since I looked this closely into the face of a dandelion. I forgot how beautiful they can be...thoughts of childhood, those of my own and of my children's danced through my heart...simple times...where have the years gone? Am I living them to the fullest, or am I just being pulled along by the demands of life? I pick one, blow it into the wind and make my wish. I wish to risk more, to slow down and relect more, to focus on making a lasting impact...

But moments later, I'm confronted with this guy. Poison Ivy. Oh boy. And just like that my thoughts start racing and recounting all the dangers of my venture into the back acres. There could be snakes...oh no, I hadn't thought of the snakes. If I knew they were all non-poisonous they wouldn't bother me so much. And what if my knee gives out? Oh dear. I'll probably fall in a patch of poison ivy and every poisonous snake will come and visit me. In addition, don't forget the nasty ground nests of wasps. For sure, I'll land in the poison ivy that's growing right on top of a ground nest of angry bees. No one knows I'm out here- I wandered off without telling anyone.

Stop it, I tell myself. I'm doing it again. I'm letting all the "what ifs" in life steal my joy. Remember, everything that is worth anything involves risk.

So I smile at the poison ivy, snap his picture and mosey on.

And am I ever glad that I did. Because I would have missed this....

and this...

and this...

clumps and clumps of Queen Anne's lace...

and a large clearing of thousands of this little weed...

and this little weed....

Then I come across the pond that spills into the little creek that meanders throughout our neighborhood. There sits Mr. Duck. I need to have a word with him anway. Seems he and his lady friend have been landing in my pool and splashing around. I want to tell him to stop it. There are plenty of other places for him to splash. But as I close in on him, he takes one look my way and off he flies. I reckon to myself that he must be a teenager.

Acts just like one. You know, the part where they don't want to be told what to do!

Oh that's right. I have three teenagers. I need to head back to the house and wake them up. Speaking of taking risks...there's nothing quite like waking up teenagers who stayed up too late the night before. It could be ugly. But I decide to ignore that kind of negative thinking and focus on something more positive.

Like the two little projects I'm working on for my studio. In fact, this Sunday

Little Pink Studio

is hosting a SHOW AND TELL. A time to share the ways you organize your stuff.

Now that's a way to make a lasting impact. Help each other get organized so we have more time to create more to share with others. Like sending that little homemade card or creation to the friend who could use a bit of encouragement.

Go sign up! Besides, her latest post has the most gorgeous display of....

I'm not going to tell. You need to go see it for yourself!

A Memorial Day Tribute...

With a heart filled with gratitude and a sense of deep respect, I’d like to say thank you to those who have served, or are serving in our armed forces. Thank you, beyond what I can express in words, for your patriotism. For your bravery. For your love and loyalty to this country and to your fellowman. For your sacrifices…sacrifices for those of us who call ourselves civilians cannot even begin to fathom. Likewise, this expression of gratitude is extended to your families as well. Most of you have also sacrificed much during or because of your loved ones’ service to our country. A thousand times over, thank you.

This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I am the daughter of a man who sacrificed greatly for this country. My father was a WWII veteran, or more specifically, a Disabled American Veteran. A man who left for war with his health intact and gratefully returned, but never to be the same again.

With limited knowledge, because he wouldn’t talk about the war, I knew it was a hell he never wished to remember. Yet, he never could forget.

When he passed away this past July, I will forever cherish the memory of his fellow servicemen performing the traditional firing of the rifles used to honor a Veteran. It is a beautifully haunting sound. Its effect chills me to the core. In fact, the empty shell cases still sit on my desk, a tangible reminder of my dad and the many others who gave so much of themselves.

May I never forget …freedom is not free. It comes at an excruciating cost.

One of my favorite photos of my father as a young boy.

SHOW AND TELL SUNDAY

China, silver, crystal, OH MY! It will be fun to see what everyone has to show. Analise at Sugar Sugar is to thank for organizing this event. A complete listing of participants is available on her blog.

Personally speaking, those items that have sentimental meaning or such association attached to them are as important to me as the pieces themselves. In fact, many of my collections began with a spark of inspiration from one of my sisters. It often seems that while pursuing a piece for a birthday or Christmas gift, it wasn't long before a personal affection for the same items begins. Might be a like-gene thing…or maybe it’s deeper than that….perhaps it is a way of having something tangible to remind us of those we care for deeply.

Such is the sentiment from which I share today. While I know that “Chintz” doesn’t technically qualify as “China”, it certainly can hold its own, she says in a confident tone. My chintz collection definitely evolved from a sister having a passion for it first. I can still remember when it started. Over twenty years ago, before I had children of my own. I was visiting this sister who lives in Arizona. Even back then we were known to scour the antique shops. In one of the shops she spotted an 8 piece setting of James Kent Du Barry berry bowls. It was love at first sight. The price was a whopping $40 and she was deeply torn. They were too beautiful to pass up, but with two small children, and limited funds, it was a lot of money. Proudly so, I was able to push her over the edge with the statement of “If you don’t buy them, I’m going to….” That was all it took. She bought the bowls. As the price of Chintz went through the roof in later years, in my book, she had scored big.

I've used many of my chintz pieces for decorating throughout my house. One of my two china cabinets filled with "found" treasures. With the mirrored back, coupled with my novice, at best, photography skills, it was tough to get a good shot.

I was also fortunate enough to have two different patterns of silver passed to me from family. The one I’ve photographed belonged to my husband’s side of the family. What tickled me greatly was that inside the chest were all the original receipts. I made a copy of the price list from the 1950’s. Prices have changed a little since then. Smile.

Thanks for stopping by!

SHOW AND TELL SATURDAY-Studio Organization

Thanks to thelittlebluebirddiaries I received a little motivation to keep plugging away at putting together my new art studio. I have light years to go, but as they say, even the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Right? So here we are at mile marker 16…only 984 more to go! After decades of collecting and dabbling in virtually every crafty pursuit known to man, organizing this mess is on my “must do” list. For more years than I care to count my supplies have been tucked away in multiple locations throughout the homes where I’ve lived. (Read: moved a lot!) Hence, I am thrilled to finally have one, wonderful room all to myself. It is an eclectic mess of mismatched furniture and storage for sure. But it is my mess. And with any luck, it will become an organized mess!

Our show and tell today is sharing ideas on organizing our studios. The week went by quickly, but I did manage to snap a few shots. If blogger is working correctly, you should be able to click on the photos and enlarge them for a more detailed viewing.

I have 3 of these chests that you buy from a hardware store. Typically they are gray or black plastic. Wanting to "pretty them up" a bit, I spray painted the inside and outside with pink spray paint. The color was a bit more "vibrant" than I cared for so I went back and washed it with a pearlized white paint to tone down the look at me I'm pink look. As a final touch, I used an antiquing glaze to add a bit more vintage appeal. One down, and two more to paint....

These are an all time favorite...I ordered a bunch of these online a few years back. They are made of sturdy duck cloth and are double-sided! There are 80 pockets on each bag. The possibilities are endless...If like me, for years and years, all you had was a stolen little spot somewhere, these could hang on the back of a door to maximize your storage area. I've often thought that an ambitious person could make their own. Most fabric stores carry the clear, heavy-gauge vinyl (typically stocked with the vinyl tablecloth bolts).

Another peek of several of these hanging in the closet of my studio room.

Some other items that I keep my eyes peeled for when out "hunting" at flea markets, garage sales, etc. are old pickle jars, fruit jars, and glass canisters. "Eventually" she says, I plan to build some shelves to display these functional storage pieces. The big pickle jar above with the green lid has been designated as "ribbon scrap"...you know...those little bits and pieces you have left over...not big enough to put back on the roll, but knowing they will find a purpose some other time.
While I am in awe of photos of studios where everything is "behind doors" I am too much of a visual person to ever live like that...! Hence, when it came to my rubber stamp collection, I decided the best way (cheapest?) way to get what I wanted, was to build my own. So that's what I did. I cheated anywhere I could in order to make these quickly. A real craftsman would shudder at my workmanship, but hey....it works for me! I purchased pre-painted boards at Home Depot and then cut them to my specs. I backed this one with, you guessed it, already painted bead board. In the next photo, I have another unit I made (stamps still hiding in rubber bins somewhere) using pegboard as a backing. I have marginal, at best, carpentry skills, so this project is quite "doable" for most people.
Or for some visual inspiration, I like to wind some of my ribbons around these old mill spools. Look at the wonderful color and patina on the tops of these beauties.

And last but not least (to me anyway!) is a project I am still working on. It is a special notebook to get me ORGANIZED! This will be command central. For instance, as I was digging around for the website where I ordered the duckcloth, multi-pocketed hanging bag, I couldn't find it. It wasn't where I thought it was. So one section in my notebook will be for this kind of information. Another will be for all the online places where I am a certifiably registered....what's my username? password? Other inclusions will be a listing of needed supplies or wishlist items. A section on blogs (favorites, ideas for posting, etc.). Another for must-read books. A section for great art ideas/inspirations. One for TO DO items, calls, notes to myself, follow ups I need to do, etc. And on and on...No more piles of loose papers with random notes, numbers, ideas.

I wanted it to be special...special enough that I would want to use it. And so far, I'm pleased with how it's progressing...

This notebook started out as a "hot pink" cloth-covered 3 ring binder. I painted and distressed the fabric (inside and out). Next I decided to use this big old metal "S" on the cover. From there, I just let the process take over, adding bits, thinking about it...walking away, coming back later...you know how that goes!Up close details of cover...

One of my section dividers is a scan of an old French publication printed in the early 1900's. I made coordinating paper by cropping around the title and pasting to a separate document. I purchased a stack of these some time ago and I'll make a notation in my "blog" section to one day share some of the scans. They are wonderful! The dividers so far are mostly covered with pieces of vintage wallpaper (front and back). I glued the wallpaper to a piece of heavy cardstock.

Each divider will have a handmade tab to show its contents.In order to add some durability to the section dividers I reinforced the holes with a larger than normal eyelet.This is a view of a section divider (on the right) that I will use for matters pertaining to my faith journey. The coordinating paper for this section is on the right tucked into the pocket of the binder.I went through my favorite vintage postcards and scanned them into my computer. After printing them on paper I went back and added lines using Microsoft Word and ran them through a second time. I also added my favorite ink to give the pages a distressed, worn look.Another created paper....And one more "flavor" of notebook paper....

That's all for today folks! I have several more neat projects for storage that I am working on. Will post them as they are finished!

Read any good books?

Oh HAPPY DAY!!!! Five times over, in fact. Mrs. Mail-lady delivered not one, but two packages containing books today! I couldn't wait to rip into them. The first, pictured above, is my very own copy of Postmark LA. If you are a fan of Rebecca Sower, Pam Garrison, Charlotte Lyons, Teresa McFayden, Carolyn Peeler, or Amy Hanna, you will want to order your copy too! The photography is exceptional...the inspiration is delightful...it's dripping with details & ideas --and to top it all off, it is printed on scrumptious paper to boot. It is simply wonderful!!! If you click on any of their names there is a link for ordering this fine masterpiece. It took me an hour just to do a quick browse...can't wait to REALLY dig in...!!!

But double dip me in chocolate...my box from Amazon arrived as well. There is a great blog I have discovered written by a young gal (young to me anyway!) who lives in Texas. Brin is a fabulous writer...an eclectic sort of gal with seven irons in the fire and a spirit that is endearing. She has often makes mention of great books she's enjoyed. Being an avid reader myself, I picked four to order. It's worth the visit just to see photos of her new, adorable chocolate lab puppy.

I was going to cook a really nice meal for dinner tonight...oh oh....but the sun is shining, there's a pool in my back yard, a recliner with my name on it, and new books in my paws. Which would you pick?

Free Fairy Clip Art Image

I don't know about you, but these sweet illustrations from vintage children's books are just too cute. This is one of several beautiful illustrations in a paperback book from 1915 titled THE BETTY FAIRY BOOK. The talented illustrator was Margaret Evans Price. For all you fairy lovers out there, please feel free to copy and use for your own personal use!

I purchased my copy off of Ebay several years ago at a great price. I see them quite often from different sellers and like all auctions on Ebay, the prices vary dramatically. Speaking of Ebay, I'm hearing a lot of grumbling from Sellers these days. One dealer at an antique store in the Atlanta area recently told me that he closed his store on Ebay because of the constant increase in Seller's fees. I love Ebay and have purchased much through the years. But I am noticing more and more that many Sellers no longer accept PayPal. I hope that trend doesn't continue as it makes me think TWICE about even bidding on an auction where you have to send a check.

Someday I'll scan in the rest of these delightful pictures and share them with you all....

Vintage rhinestones...

The beautiful is as useful as the useful,
perhaps more so.
~VICTOR HUGO




Spurred on by the inspiration from Suzanne and Dawn I was able to add to my collection of vintage rhinestones. There is just something about those little lovelies that call my name...everytime. Loud. So despite the fact that on Mother's Day the hours slipped by faster than I had planned, I made a desperate (just ask hubbie who accompanied me!) attempt to at least see the flea market each had commented on in their blogs. Pulling up in the final hours, with gusty winds blowing that day, my heart sank as I witnessed vendor after vendor loading up their wares. But not to worry, as I still managed to bring home some wonderful finds. In fact, my real prize is a beautiful little table that I will post at another time.

Most of the rhinestone pieces were snagged on my visit to the Scott Antique Market held in the Atlanta area of Georgia. The other inclusions in this picture are also recent finds from a variety of sources. Vintage flash cards are another weakness of mine. This one in particular is very unusual in that it is 18 inches long and has the most beautiful aged patina. I'm thinking this will be nestled somehow amongst my little collection of vintage dollies. (My photography leaves a lot to be desired as this picture doesn't do any of these pieces justice.)

A couple of other fun things I noticed happening in blogland are as follows:

Show and Tell: Saturday, May 24....Show off an organization tip for those art studios. Hosted by thelittlebluebirddiaries.typepad.com

Show and Tell Sunday, May 25....Show off your collection of china, silver and crystal. Hosted by Analise.

The passing of years...

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? ~Dr. Seuss~

Where does the time go? Wasn't it just yesterday that you joined our family? The last of three...my second baby boy. Now in a few short days you will "graduate" from middle school and next year it's off to high school. Unbelievable...I remember amusing myself (not hard to do) by looking around your kindergarten class and thinking to myself, "I'm 42 and I have a kindergartner...what's wrong with this picture?!"

But what a blast it's been being your mom. You are such an awesome young man. Unfortunately, I'm not the only one who's noticed. When I woke up this morning and looked out on the driveway, I just shook my head. A pack of girls left you all kinds of sweet love notes written in chalk while we weren't looking. Happens all the time. For years and years and years. Phone calls, door bells ringing, love notes slipped in lockers, and so forth. What ever happened to the notion that boys should pursue girls, and not vice versa?

Of course, I wasn't exactly successful in reigning in your sister either. I still have a note she penned in kindergarten to a neighbor boy. It simply stated: "Andy, will you marry me?" To which he wisely responded: "NO"...he wrote "no" 52 times! His mama taught him well.

****************************

Yes, the soon-to-be-graduate of 8th grade mentioned ever so casually, that he needed a stack of photos to complete a project for school. He needed pictures of his growing up years. Oh. That should be easy. I have 1000's of those. But what I didn't realize is how long it would take me. It happens every time. Sorting through all those pictures takes me back and I begin reliving all those sweet memories of years gone by.

What I wouldn't give to go back for a day or more of when my kids were little. To plant a million more kisses on those chubby, soft baby cheeks. To snuggle each night on their beds as stories were read. Back to a time when a band-aid, or a big hug, or tender words could fix everything that was wrong in their world.

Yes, Dr. Seuss, you are right. The years have flewn...fast. Faster with each passing year. May I never take them for granted. But cherish each for the gift they truly are..

Remodeling...

True to form, I didn't like my first attempts at posting. Sort of jumped in with two left feet and no real vision of where to go. The word clueless comes to mind. Or is it that nasty disease of perfectionism? Or life is too hectic at the moment? Or a lethal combination of all of the above? Most likely the latter.

Hence, my first few posts were obliterated.

Now I'm debating. Do I have time right now? In a season of life that demands more than I have to give. Thank God, literally, for God. Faith testing times.

I'll let these thoughts marinate, and while the grill burners of life are set on high, I'll take a taste test later on and make my decision. Not my final decision, mind you. After all, I am a girl and as such, I reserve the right to change my mind.

Until later...